Utah Bass Fishing Reports

Revised 05-23-18

Links give descriptions of the lake and facilities available. Check proclamtion for details on fishing restrictions as these may not be complete.

WHIRLING DISEASE -- For waters indicated, please prevent the spread of WHIRLING DISEASE by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. DO NOT TRANSPORT any parts of fish caught here to other waters.Click here for DWR information.

(May 18) Anglers are catching tiger muskies on bass jigs. You must release any tiger muskie that have not reached the 40-inch length limit. Please use care and good catch-and-release techniques. Trout fishing is extremely slow.

(May 5) Anglers are catching tiger muskies on bass jigs. You must release any tiger muskie that have not reached the 40-inch length limit. Please use care and good catch-and-release techniques. Trout fishing is extremely slow.

(May 18) Anglers have been catching 16- to 22-inch rainbows and some smallmouth bass. Anglers have had success fishing from shore on the northeast side of the dam. Nightcrawlers tipped with an Atlas Mike's marshmallow have been the hot ticket. You can also try using Rooster Tail spinners, Kastmaster spoons or Luhr-Jensen Shyster spinners, and recover the lure at a medium to fast retrieval speed. For those who are trolling, try using popgear, Mack's Lures Wedding Rings or D&H Custom Lures spoons. Troll at 1.8 to 2.0 miles per hour with the lure suspended in 12 to 25 feet of water. The smallmouth bass fishing should start to pick up as temperatures warm.

(May 3) Anglers have been catching 16- to 22-inch rainbows, 20- to 22-inch browns and some smallmouth bass. Anglers have reported success trolling at 1.6–2.2 mph with the lure approximately 60 to 70 feet behind the boat and suspended in 10 to 15 feet of water. Try using fluorescent orange, fluorescent chartreuse or fluorescent pink Mack's Lures Wedding Rings. Another good option is Christenson's Lakeshore Tackle spinner squids (in green glow or pink glow) behind a Black Tiger Sun Jelly dodger. Tip your lure with a half-inch of nightcrawler and scent with Pro-Cure Nightcrawler Super Gel. Shore anglers have reported success using Rapala Original Floating lures, Rapala Husky Jerk lures, or Garlic PowerBait under a bubble with about a three-foot leader line. For those targeting smallmouth bass, try dropshotting with a Gary Yamamoto Senko and use either a nose or wacky rig. Bass fishing will start to pick up as water temperatures begin to warm over the next few weeks.

(Apr 27) Although East Canyon was hit-or-miss last week, reports suggest that the bite has improved this week. One angler who was trolling spoons tipped with nightcrawler caught eight rainbow trout and missed six more. They observed that the bite slowly picked up as the morning went on.

(May 22) Tonya of Roy fished the NE side with a partner and caught 6 rainbows and 2 smallmouth using red Power Bait and worms. 'Fishing was great and all trout caught were between 18" and 22"'

(May 5) According to one angler report, which matches multiple reports from the last, Echo is doing fair to good. An angler who caught several 13- to 15-inch trout recommended using a small Jake's lure or PowerBait up near the dam. Worms have also worked well recently.

(Apr 27) According to angler reports this week, Echo is doing fair to good. Anglers this week recommended fishing with PowerBait off the bottom. One angler recommended green PowerBait in particular. Gold spinners and worms have also worked well for anglers recently.

(May 18) Water levels are fairly low in both reservoirs. The water level is well below the boat ramp at the upper reservoir, so only small boats can launch. Catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked in the lower reservoir. Anglers report slow to fair fishing.

(May 5) The lower reservoir is mostly full, while the upper is about half full. The water level is still below the boat ramp at the upper reservoir so only small boats can be launched. Catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked in the lower reservoir. Slow to fair fishing reported.

(May 5) Fishing was fair at the pond this week. Farmington Pond was stocked on April 30 with nearly 500 planter-sized rainbow trout. Keep an eye on the stocking report because fishing is typically best for the first few days after stocking. In general, try baits such as nightcrawlers or PowerBait.

(Apr 27) Fishing was fair at the pond this week. Farmington Pond was stocked on April 16 with nearly 500 planter-sized rainbow trout. Keep an eye on the stocking reports as fishing at the community ponds tends to be best within a few days after stocking. In general, your basic baits such as nightcrawlers or PowerBait are good to try.

Lake trout: Fishing is fair from a boat. Anglers are catching some small lake trout while trolling or jigging in 50 to 80 feet of water near main channel points and ridges. You can locate fish above the bottom using a fish finder. Try to vertically jig a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce white or glow-in-the-dark tube jig or jigging spoon (Northland Buckshot) tipped with sucker/chub meat. Gulp minnows and blade baits (Sebile Vibrato) can also work well. If trolling, try spoons like RMT Viper Serpents, Northland Forage Minnows and #3 Needlefish to target small lake trout.

Kokanee salmon: The fishing is unseasonably good fishing and most are biting while anglers troll in 10 to 30 feet of water on dodgers and squids (hot pink) near Anvil and Wildhorse. Use planer boards to troll shallow and get the offering away from the boat. You may graph schools deeper in the middle of the day and have to use downriggers or lead core line to troll for deeper fish. If you find a large concentration, some anglers are catching them while vertically jigging small spoons tipped with Gulp maggots.

Rainbow trout: Fishing is fair to good from the shoreline and from boats in depths from 5 to 20 feet of water. A boat is essential to access most of the lower reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the Dam Point Visitor Center and boat ramps. Fish are shallow and cruising the shoreline, especially in the backs of canyons, near inflows and along shallow rocky points. Where you catch one, you will likely catch many. Marabou jigs are very effective in earth tones (orange, green, tan) and 1/4-ounce weights. Spinners, spoons and other jigs will work as well. If you're trolling, try using small spoons or pop gear 10 to 20 feet of water at 1.5 to 2 mph.

Smallmouth bass: Fishing is slow, but the bass are getting more active now that water has warmed into the 50s. Try reaction baits like Xraps or Husky Jerks. Jigs mimicking crayfish (earth tone colors), their primary forage, are also a good option.

Burbot: Fishing is slow. Target burbot on rocky points and shorelines in 10 to 40 feet of water at night using glow-in-the-dark lures like Yamamoto grubs, Radical Glow tubes, Maniac Cutterbugs and Northland Buckshot spoons. Tip the lure with sucker/chub meat, recharge glow frequently, and jig the presentation a couple inches from the bottom.

(May 5) The Flaming Gorge Fishing Derby is scheduled for May 19 and 20, 2018. To register, visit flaminggorgefishderby.com or call 435-784-3483 for more information.

Lake trout: Fishing is fair from a boat. Anglers are catching some small lake trout while trolling or jigging in 50 to 80 feet of water near main channel points and ridges. You can locate fish above the bottom using a fish finder. Try to vertically jig a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce white or glow-in-the-dark tube jig or jigging spoon (Northland Buckshot) tipped with sucker/chub meat. Gulp minnows and blade baits (Sebile Vibrato) can also work well. If trolling, try spoons like RMT Viper Serpents, Northland Forage Minnows and #3 Needlefish to target aggressive pups.

Kokanee salmon: Fishing is unseasonably good. Anglers are catching kokanee while trolling in 10–30 feet of water on dodgers and pink squids. Use planer boards to troll shallower water and get the offering away from the boat. You may graph schools deeper in the middle of the day. If you do, use downriggers or lead-core line to troll for the deeper fish. When the fish are in a large concentration, some anglers have successfully caught them while vertically jigging small spoons tipped with Gulp maggots.

Rainbow trout: Fishing is excellent from the shoreline and from boats in depths from 5 to 20 feet. A boat is essential to access most of the lower reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the Dam Point Visitor Center and boat ramps. Fish are shallow and cruising the shoreline, especially in the backs of canyons, near inflows and along shallow rocky points. Where you catch one, you will likely catch many. Marabou jigs are very effective, in earth tones (orange, green, tan) and 1/4-ounce weights. Spinners, spoons and other jigs will work as well. Trollers should try small spoons or pop gear 10 to 20 feet under the surface at 1.5 to 2 mph.

Smallmouth bass: Fishing is slow, but bass are getting more active now that water has warmed into the 50s. Try reaction baits like Xraps or Husky Jerks. Jigs mimicking crayfish (earth tone colors), their primary forage, are also a good option.

Burbot: Target burbot on rocky points and shorelines in 10–40 feet of water at night using glow-in-the-dark lures like Yamamoto grubs, Radical Glow tubes, Maniac Cutterbugs and Northland Buckshot spoons. Tip the lure with sucker/chub meat, recharge glow frequently and jig the presentation a couple inches from the bottom.

(May 18) The boat ramp is open during daylight hours on weekends. Visit the Gunlock State Park website for open hours. The reservoir was treated with rotenone in 2015 to remove illegally introduced smallmouth bass that pose a serious threat to native fish in the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers. We have begun restocking largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie. Small largemouth bass (up to 10 inches long) are now abundant and can provide some fun action.

(May 5) The boat ramp is open during daylight hours on weekends. Visit State Parks website for open hours. Gunlock Reservoir was treated with rotenone in 2015 to remove illegally introduced smallmouth bass, which pose a serious threat to native fish in the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers. We have begun re-stocking largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie. Small largemouth bass (up to 10 inches) are now abundant and they can provide some fun fishing.

(May 18) Gunnison Bend Reservoir is at 80 percent of capacity. Largemouth bass, white bass and channel catfish are all active and providing fair to good fishing. Anglers report good fishing with small jigs in green and yellow — tipped with nightcrawler — and one-inch perch pattern swim baits.

(May 5) Largemouth bass and channel catfish are becoming more active with rising water level and temperature.

(May 5) Holmes Creek Reservoir is a great place to fish if you want somewhere close to home to enjoy this nice weather in relative solitude. Likely owing to the solitude, we didn't receive any angler reports this week. In the past couple of weeks, anglers have reported good fishing for planter-sized rainbow trout. The reservoir was heavily stocked and fishing has been decent with a PowerBait or worm rig. One group of anglers did well tipping their worms with marshmallow last week. They caught several trout over the course of two hours.

(Apr 27) Fishing at Holmes appears to be fair to good, according to angler reports. One group of anglers caught seven rainbow trout between the two of them within a couple hours in the afternoon. They had the most success using PowerBait or a nightcrawler tipped with marshmallow.

(May 11) Huntington North Reservoir has been stocked with more than 3,000 rainbow trout so far this year. Many of those fish are more than 20 inches long. A recent gillnet survey also produced several largemouth bass that weighed more than three pounds.

(May 4) Huntington North Reservoir has been stocked with more than 3,000 rainbow trout so far this year. Many of those fish are more than 20 inches in length. A recent gillnet survey also produced several largemouth bass over three pounds.

(May 5) Fishing was starting to pick up last week and is still good for rainbow trout. Try using a variety of lures and experimenting to see which is the most appealing to the fish at any given time. Recently, a gold Jake's lure did particularly well. Anglers are primarily catching planter-sized fish, but a few anglers have caught larger rainbows. If you're fishing from shore, try PowerBait and worms.

(Apr 27) Fishing at Hyrum looks to be finally picking up, according to angler reports! One family of anglers tried a variety of baits and lures and reported that a gold Jake's Spin-A-Lure did very well for bringing in large numbers of planter-sized rainbow trout. Another angler caught just as many rainbow trout using a huge variety of lures—they said that pretty much anything they threw got a hit. Most of the trout this angler caught were only about eight inches long, but a couple were above planter size.

(May 18) Anglers are catching 16- to 18-inch rainbows. Try trolling at 1.8 to 2.0 miles per hour with the lure 85 to 100 feet behind. Anglers report that longer lines are producing the best results when trolling. Try using chartreuse spoons or D&H Custom Lures Galaxy Dodgers and Triple Threat Squids. Remember to scent your lure with Smelly Jelly and tip it with a small piece of nightcrawler or a Berkley Gulp! Maggot. Anglers have caught one or two kokanee in the inlet arm, suspended in about 30 feet of water. Shore anglers have reported success using PowerBait or nightcrawlers tipped with Atlas Mike's salmon eggs.

(May 3) Try trolling at 1.7–2.0 mph with your lure trailing 60 to 75 feet behind the boat and suspended in about 10 to 20 feet of water. Try using Luhr-Jensen popgear, Yakima Flatfish or Mack's Lures Wedding Rings. Remember to scent with Pro-Cure Shrimp Super Gel and tip with a nightcrawler that has about a half-inch of tail trailing. For shore anglers, try using a bubble and about two to three feet of leader with a renegade nymph fly or a Blue Fox Classic Vibrax spinner

(May 5) Fishing has been slow. One group of anglers last week who fished for over three hours reported that the group only got one bite on a worm during the entire trip. Keep an eye on the stocking report because fishing is typically best for the first few days after stocking. In general, try baits such as nightcrawlers or PowerBait. Spinners tend to do well at the Kaysville Ponds, too.

(Apr 27) Fishing at Kaysville is still very slow. One group of anglers who fished for over three hours only got one bite on a worm between the four of them. Keep an eye on the stocking reports as fishing at the community ponds tends to be best within a few days after stocking. In general, your basic baits such as nightcrawlers or PowerBait are good to try.

Striped bass are now actively spawning. Unlike bass, stripers do not build nests on the gravel bottom or protect the young. Male stripers have been ready to spawn since the first of April. Females are now experiencing the spawning trigger which is a rapid water temperature rise. Stripers spawn on the surface which makes a surface disturbance similar to a striper boil, but the event occurs after dark when no one is there to see it. Having witnessed a few of these night time spawning events I can attest that the experience is unforgettable.

My first spawning event occurred on the Warm Creek side of the Castle Rock Cut in 1984. We located a dormant striper school there in the afternoon and returned on a moonless night. When the night sky was fully dark, we cast white bucktail jigs into the spawning cove, which was 30 feet deep and about 50 yards long. Striped bass males are extremely aggressive when spawning. It was not possible to reel in the jig without getting hit or catching a fish. Occasionally a large female was also hooked. We harvested over 150 stripers weighing 3-4 pounds with a few larger females, including the biggest which weighed in at 22 pounds.

Striped bass spawning will continue for the next two weeks over the length of the lake. It is now possible to see visible striper schools during the day in the clear water. We have seen schools at Buoy 25, and along the east wall of Padre Bay, Last Chance and Rock Creek. They tend to move around so I suggest trolling the shoreline at dusk. Mark the spot where a large concentration of fish is found and return there after dark to find the spawners. We recently tried to locate a spawning school before the sun came up by trolling in 12-25 feet with Lucky Craft pointers. When the first fish was caught (4:30 AM MST) we immediately cast randomly around the boat and caught male stripers on every cast until the sky began to lighten up (5 AM). No more fish were caught after light intensity increased at 5:30 AM. These spawning events can be found over the length of the lake.

Bass fishing continues to be the best target for daytime anglers. Smallmouth bass are found over the length of the lake along sloping slick rock shorelines with broken rock habitat. Common holding depth is 3 to 20 feet. They can be caught on green or smoked color plastic jigs, either single or double tail, Senkos, and Ned rigs. It is fun to throw topwater lures at first light and again in the evening. There are still many shorelines that have clear water which makes it necessary to throw very long casts to prevent spooking bass prematurely.

Largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill will be near any submerged brush pile. Since that is not common at the current water level, look for shaded areas with rock habitat. Use the same lures as listed for smallmouth bass. When trying for bluegill, downsize the bait and add a piece of night crawler to increase the catch.

Walleye are now at their feeding peak for the year. They will be caught more often now, in the next two weeks, than over the rest of the summer. Walleye congregate in shallow, murky coves following a wind event or a tour boat wake in the main channel. They can be caught now by trolling across a main channel point with a diving lure that hits bottom at about 12 feet. It is wise to troll a floating lure as quagga mussels may cut the line as the lure hits bottom. If it is a floater, you can double back and find it on the surface and use it again. Slowly dragging a single tail grub with a night crawler attached along the bottom can be very effective. Using a bottom-bouncing rig with a night crawler harness, slow trolled along a level bottom works as well. Walleye are one of the best fish to eat fish found in Lake Powell. Keep walleye and stripers to help balance the population. There is no limit on these species so keep all you can catch or give away.

(May 11) Lake elevation: 3,609 feet
Water temperatures: 63–70°F

Lake Powell has stabilized with just a bit more water flowing in than going out. Without a large muddy inflow, the crystal clear water remains in more than half of the lake. In the main channel (and halfway back in most canyons), the visibility is close to 25 feet. There is a mudline in the main channel right at Castle Butte (Red Canyon – Buoy 124). Some side canyons have clear water despite the milk chocolate color in the main channel. Clear water is unusual in May and is caused by a combination of factors. Quagga mussels are the biggest culprit because they constantly siphon and filter lake water on a regular basis. Lower than normal spring water temperatures slowed down plankton production. Lack of rapidly rising water has prevented sand bank sloughing that muddies the water each spring. For now, the water is clear, except in the backs of some canyons.

This week, expect to find many different species of cooperative fish. Many anglers are reporting catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, walleye, stripers and catfish on a single trip. This is the Lake Powell Grand Slam! The best technique is to use a single-tail plastic grub on a leadhead jig. Adding a piece of live worm or a gulp minnow for scent seems to entice more walleye and sunfish to participate in your fishing excursion.

The best place to fish is halfway back in the side canyons, where the water color changes from clear to slightly stained. Look for large boulders or rocky coves with lots of habitat in about 25 feet of water. It seems that there are more active fish grouped up in certain hotspots in each canyon than you'll find in the back of the canyon or at the mouth. Catch the first fish and then concentrate on that spot to find more.

Smallmouth bass are the fish species most caught this week. Again, try a variety of habitats in your chosen location. Once you catch a smallmouth, focus on that area to catch many more. Reports this week indicated that slick rock outcroppings held more fish than isolated rock slides in the channel. After the spawn is over, bass will move to the rock slides, but during spawning season, look for shallow areas where nest building is detected. Toss topwater lures early in the morning for exciting results.

Largemouth bass follow the same pattern, but they like to be near a tree or submerged bush. If they can’t find that, bass will use a rock for protective cover. We found a three-pound largemouth guarding a nest under an overhanging rock. We could see his snout peeking out from under the rock and dropped numerous jigs to the spot. Mister Bass swept away the grub numerous times before finally picking it up and then joining us in the boat. We admired him for a moment and then put him back to protect the kids.

Stripers are still in prespawn mode, which means they're active at night and early morning. They are harder to find during the day. Bait fishing is not as successful as you'd normally find in May because the majority of striped bass are in spawning condition. This means they are less likely to be in the normal main channel fishing spots. These fish eat plankton and wait for the spawning trigger, which is getting closer now with the hot weather experienced this week. You can catch stripers while trolling in stained water over the length of the lake. For the most success, use medium- to deep-running lures that get down to depths of about 15 feet.

We have a new fish entering the picture in big numbers this year. Bluegill are bigger and much more numerous than ever before. Large schools have been reported this week hanging out behind the floating restroom in Good Hope Bay. They can be caught using a small hook with a piece of worm. We were able to see bluegill schools in clear water and enjoyed watching them interact with our small jigs and worms. The big males with the bright orange chest are impressive to catch.

You can catch walleye while bottom bouncing or dragging a plastic jig with an attached nightcrawler along the bottom in 20 to 40 feet of water. The next three weeks will be the best time to fish for and catch a walleye over the length of the lake. Fifty walleye were caught using these angling techniques and then tagged in Good Hope Bay this week as part of a migration study to learn more about fish movement in the upper lake.

The lake water is clear, but anglers are still catching a wide variety of fish in good numbers. The secret is to find one of the thousands of locations where the schools reside and then to fish that spot on a regular basis.

(May 4) Lake elevation: 3,609 feet
Water temperatures: 59–64°F

It's typically springtime weather. There are some warm days followed by cool and windy conditions. The water temperature reaches the mid-60s, but then drops back into the high-50s when the wind blows. Inflow and outflow at Lake Powell are getting closer, but there is still more water flowing out than coming in. Water in the southern lake is still amazingly clear. Conditions in May are generally warmer, calmer and more conducive to catching a wide variety of fish species. Here is what to expect.

Striped bass are spread between the main channel and the main canyons. Fish in spawning condition will be in the big bays and main canyons, and will be most active at night. Look for them in the shade of the tall canyon walls at first light in the morning. They will eat plankton close to the surface, but their main purpose is to wait for the rapid warming spawning trigger. That trigger is when the surface water temperature increases almost 10 degrees in one day. The best fishing method for striped bass is trolling and graphing until a school or a few individuals are seen. Catch a fish by trolling and then watch the graph to see fish below your boat which you can catch on spoons.

The other striped bass contingent is in the main channel looking for food. You can catch these fish using bait at depths of 30 to 50 feet. Schools are widespread over the length of the channel from the dam to Dangling Rope and beyond. The best spots change on a daily basis as the schools rove up and down the channel. Keep moving along the channel walls until you find a feeding school.

Large and smallmouth bass are actively spawning now. You can see their shallow, guarded nests in crystal clear water at depths from three to 10 feet. Sight fishing is excellent because male bass moved back to their nests after the wind cooled the water and caused the nests to be abandoned. Bass fishing will be excellent throughout the month of May.

Crappie are spawning, but — without much brush — they are more likely to use rocky structure and murky water as spawning habitat. Male crappie make a nest on the bottom and behave much like male bass as they guard the nest until the fry hatch and swim away.

Walleye are most active and catchable during May. They are usually nocturnal, but this month you can catch them day and night. Low light is the best time to fish. They congregate at dusk and dawn under the mud lines caused by wind or waves. With the high water clarity right now, fishing at deeper depths (30 feet or more) may help you catch more walleye in the southern lake. In the northern lake, find murky water leading toward the mudline and you will find walleye holding there. Try trolling close to a steep cliff wall, particularly if there is a submerged ledge where walleye can hang out in their preferred habitat. Walleye like to park on a ridge or ledge where they wait for food to swim by. Dragging a bottom bouncer and worm harness is often effective on humps, ledges and flat bottoms. Casting a double or single tail plastic bass jig and then maintaining bottom contact is also effective. It works even better if a piece of live worm is attached to the hook. The most productive depth to catch walleye is 15 to 35 feet.

Bluegill and green sunfish increase their feeding behavior as water warms to 65°F. It only takes a few more degrees until spawning will occur. The bluegill activity level is now increasing. Fish size has also increased recently and anglers have catch many larger bluegill. Larger bluegill feeding voraciously makes a whole new sport fishery possible in Lake Powell. You can catch big fish in large schools in 12 to 25 feet of 64°F water. Look for a submerged bush near shore or a large rock pocket to find a school of bluegill.

Catfish are getting more active and will spawn in late May.

(Apr 27) Lake elevation: 3,610 feet
Water temperatures: 58–64°F

The water level is still declining. About 16,000 acre feet of water flow into the lake while 24,000 acre feet flow out. The water temperature is climbing and the early morning temperature now at 59°F. Hopefully the warming air temperature will allow the runoff to increase and allow the lake to rise. The water is still crystal clear in the southern lake. You can see the bottom in 30 feet of water in some locations.

These warming conditions have ushered in the expected behavioral change in the adult striped bass that are waiting to spawn. Each spring, adult stripers migrate back to where they were spawned (similar to salmon running upstream to their nursery location). Stripers spawn at night, so they are not that easy to find during the day. Stripers spawn on the surface, so there are no nests to mark the location of the spawning. The evidence is that large schools of stripers swim during the early morning on the surface as they wait for the 10 degree temperature spike that allows spawning to occur. That trigger is an early morning water temperature of 62–64°F, which increases to 74 or above in the afternoon. While waiting for the temperature increase, the striper schools pass the early morning hours by swimming aimlessly near the surface, feeding on tiny microscopic plankton. When the morning sun hits the water, the school drops down to 40 feet or deeper and waits for that spawning trigger. Usually spawning occurs between May 10 and June 10.

Over the years, we have found some of those spawning locations. Some pre-spawn holding locations are marked by high canyon walls on the east side of the lake that offer extended shady periods. The sun is rising at about 6:30 a.m. MDT. The eastern sky begins to lighten 30 to 45 minutes earlier, and the events described above occur between 5:45 and 8 a.m. or when the sunlight hits the water in different locations.

As we checked out a spawning location in Padre Bay yesterday, my heart skipped a beat as I saw a school of stripers slurping plankton on the surface. We deployed a number of fishing techniques to see what would be most effective. We trolled over the school with small crankbaits trailed way behind the boat. The school sounded and then returned to the surface about the time our lures were in range and we caught a few three-pound stripers. We fast trolled Clouser Minnow flies just under the surface and caught a few fish. We stopped in casting range of the feeding school and cast jigs, small crankbaits and flies and caught a few fish. When the school left the surface, we dropped spoons down to the fish where we could see them on the graph — at about 40 to 80 feet — and caught a few fish. It was intense, breathtaking and very satisfying to be back interacting with spawning stripers again. The sun hit the water way too soon and the morning action was over. We checked a few more spots by trolling in the backs of canyons at a water depth of 25 feet in murky water. We ended up with 34 stripers total at the fish cleaning station.

Those fishing bait in the main channel came in about the same time and most had 10 to 20 stripers from the morning trip. Fishing has improved and will continue to be good to great for all of May.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass have been guarding many nests in the southern lake. Anglers seeking spunky bass were smiling as well. Fish size and health is great right now. Walleye fishing is heating up in the northern lake.

Spring spawning season is here with the daily air temperatures in the 70–80°F range. There will be some afternoon winds, so the best fishing will be in the early morning over the next 10 days.

(May 5) The water temperature is around 50°F. Anglers report slow fishing again this week, but we've received fewer reports. There's a possibility that things could pick this weekend.

(Apr 27) The water temperature is still around 50 degrees. We received many angler reports indicating very slow fishing. Besides the number of slow reports received, some of these reports also indicated that other boats on the water weren't pulling in any fish either.

(May 18) Fishing has been fair to good lately. Trout are moving away from shorelines so boats and float tubes are producing better results. Surface action on midges has been common on calm evenings. Wipers are getting more active, with the best fishing at dawn and dusk. Look for smallmouth bass to get more active at any time. We conducted our annual fish population survey recently and found good numbers of rainbow trout from 16 to 22 inches. These larger fish are in great condition and are very fat. Rainbows stocked last fall also experienced good survival. Results were encouraging despite poor water levels in recent years. Utah chub numbers have been severely reduced by wipers, reducing competition with trout and leading to better growth and survival.

(May 12) Paul Gold & Sherry Powell of Las Vegas fished the western shore and caught 12 rainbows casting and trolling spinners and spoons. "All fish were in the 14 to 18" range. Trout are vibrant and healthy. Conditions were cloudy, cold and windy."

(May 5) Fishing has been fair lately as trout are getting a little picky, with a lot of short strikes. Wipers are getting more active, with best fishing at dawn and dusk. Look for smallmouth bass to get more active in the next few weeks. We conducted our annual fish population survey recently and found good numbers of rainbow trout from 16 to 22 inches. These larger fish are in great condition and are very fat. Rainbows stocked last fall also experienced good survival. Results were encouraging despite poor water level in recent years. Utah chub numbers have been severely reduced by wipers, reducing competition with trout and leading to better growth and survival.

(May 18) Fishing for trout has been picking up from boats trolling and casting lures. Anglers are also catching a few smallmouth and wipers. Fishing is slower from shore. We conducted a fish population survey recently and found great results for rainbow trout. Rainbows stocked last fall are abundant and are now about 10 to 12 inches long. We also found a fair number of larger rainbows, up to 20 inches long. These fish are in great condition and seem to be growing well, despite low water levels in recent years.

(May 5) Fishing for trout has been picking up from boats trolling and casting lures. A few smallmouth and wipers are also being picked up. Slower fishing from shore. We conducted a fish population survey recently and found great results for rainbow trout. Rainbows stocked last fall are abundant and have grown up to 10 to 12 inches. We also found a fair number of larger rainbows, up to 20 inches. These fish are in great condition and seem to be growing well, despite low water levels in recent years.

(May 18) The bass fishing is excellent on warm days, and will only get better. Try fishing in the late afternoon. Carp have started to spawn, so now is a good time to try your hand at bowfishing. Because of a treatment that is currently scheduled for fall 2018, limits have been liberalized. The largemouth bass limit is now 12 and there is no limit on bluegill.

(May 5) We will not be able to put the fishing pier in this year, as it is now nine years old and has suffered some significant structural damage, making it unsafe to use. The bass fishing has been excellent on warm days, and will only get better as it gets warmer. Try fishing in the later afternoon. Carp have started to spawn, so you may try your hand at bowfishing. Because of a treatment that is currently scheduled for fall 2018, limits have been liberalized. The largemouth bass limit is now 12 and there is no limit on bluegill.

(May 5) Steve of West Valley fished with a partner and caught 1 smallmouth using a tube jig. "water was high 1 bite all day nothing hitting all day"

(May 5) On May 11, the boat ramp at Pineview will begin collecting admission fees. Fishing is still slow.

(Apr 27) Fishing appears to still be slow at Pineview this week, just as it has been for the past several weeks. Anglers are reporting no bites or nothing caught. Recently, some anglers have reported catching the occasional catfish or carp.

(May 18) Due to the likelihood of the reservoir being drained this year, the daily trout limit at Piute Reservoir has been raised to eight fish through the remainder of 2018. Suckers are still abundant, despite repeated water fluctuation in recent years. Rainbow trout were stocked last fall, but will likely experience poor growth and survival.

(May 18) Fishing has started to pick up. Anglers report catching 21-inch wipers. They are feasting on black crappie, so try getting jigs to mimic smaller panfish. For perch and/or walleye, try fishing a jighead and worm in about 10 to 15 feet of water.

(May 5) Fishing is slow. Try a jighead and worm for perch and/or walleye in about 10 to 15 feet of water. Once the water temperatures hit 50 degrees, we can expect wipers to become more active.

(Apr 27) The water temperature is still quite cold and fishing has been slow to fair. We received one report from a shore angler who caught a few rainbow trout using PowerBait off the bottom. Another angler caught a couple decent-sized rainbow trout but opted not to share what they were using. Other recent angler reports suggested slow fishing.

(May 18) Bass are very active and providing good to excellent fishing. Anglers are finding fair to good success with senkos, crankbaits and ned rigs. They are catching bass from boats and from the shore. Topwater action can be particularly exciting at dawn and dusk. Fishing early and late can also help you avoid pleasure boat traffic.

(May 5) Water temperature is now reaching the low to mid 60s and bass are on the move. Nest building is widespread in the shallows and you can find fish from depths of 5 to 30 feet. Storms will often halt the shallow water action and push the fish back deep for a couple of days. Anglers are finding fair to good success with senkos, crank baits, and ned rigs. Bass are being caught from both boats and shore. Watch the weather forecast and adjust your technique accordingly. Pleasure boat traffic will continue to increase over the next few weeks.

(Apr 27) Brandon Bezzant of Bluffdale caught 8 largemouth using Spooks and Texas rigs and wacky rig with Senkos. "Top water action is awesome from 6:00 am until 8:am caught all fish in the shallows"

(May 18) Walleye fishing should be picking up. Kokanee fishing has been extremely slow. The water temperature is hovering in the mid 50s and the visibility is about four feet. The reservoir is full and spilling. Biologists have been conducting surveys and have found high densities of smaller walleye. We encourage anglers to harvest these small walleye to help balance the fishery and produce healthier walleye populations. Also, if anglers catch crappie, we are asking them to please voluntarily release them so this population of crappie can get established in the reservoir.

(May 5) Walleye fishing should be picking up. Kokanee fishing is extremely slow. The water temperature is hovering around 48 degrees and the visibility in the water is about four feet. The reservoir is very full and spilling. Biologists have been conducting surveys and have found high densities of smaller walleye. Anglers are being encouraged to harvest these small walleye to help balance the fishery out and produce healthier walleye populations. Also, if anglers catch crappie, we are asking them to please voluntarily release them so this population of crappie can get established in the reservoir.

(May 18) Shore anglers have been extremely successful fishing for rainbow trout with worms, Jake's lures and traditional PowerBait. Largemouth bass fishing is excellent during the warmer parts of the day. There's Bluegill Fishing Tournament happening on June9, which is Free Fishing Day in Utah. To learn more, and to register, visit the Eventbrite signup page. There is no daily bag limit for any species, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, and bluegill. This change will remain in effect until December 31, 2018. The Bureau of Reclamation will fill Steinaker to the same level as previous years in 2018. It will be drawn down to dead pool over the course of the 2018 irrigation season. Boaters should be able to launch through the summer, but we expect to lose access to the reservoir via the boat ramp in October. We also expect there to be no storage water in Steinaker during all of 2019. Work on the dam will begin in late fall and will continue through the winter. We will not stock brown or rainbow trout in 2018 or 2019. We hope to be able to begin restoring of the fishery in 2020.

(May 5) Shore anglers have been extremely successful fishing for rainbow trout with worms, Jake's lures, and traditional PowerBait. Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent during the warmer parts of the day. The Division has issued an emergency change that liberalizes limits at Steinaker. There is no daily bag limit for any species, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, and bluegill. This change will remain in effect until December 31, 2018. The Bureau of Reclamation will fill Steinaker to the same level as previous years in 2018. It will be drawn down to dead pool over the course of the 2018 irrigation season. Boaters should be able to launch through the summer, but we expect to lose access to the reservoir via the boat ramp in October. We also expect there to be no storage water in Steinaker during all of 2019. Work on the dam will begin in late fall and will continue through the winter. We will not stock brown or rainbow trout in 2018 or 2019. We hope to be able to begin restoring of the fishery in 2020.

(May 18) Anglers have been catching 12- to 18-inch rainbows, 18- to 22-inch cutthroats and 14- to 18-inch kokanee salmon. For trout, anglers have reported success using PowerBait or a nightcrawler tipped with salmon eggs. For kokanee, anglers have reported success trolling at 1.7 to 2.0 miles per hour, with the lure suspended in 15 to 30 feet of water. Try using Christenson's Lakeshore Tackle gold with silver dodger, hyperplaid Dakota dodger, or silver Tiger Sun Jelly dodger and Slammin' Salmon squids. Scent with Pro-Cure Carp Spit or Kokanee Special Super Gel.

(May 3) The reservoir is completely ice free, and fishing has been fast and furious. Anglers are catching 12- to 17-inch rainbows, 18- to 22-inch cutthroats and some kokanee salmon. For trout, a little bit of everything has been working. Boat anglers have had success trolling at 1.7–2.0 mph with the lure suspended in about 10 to 15 feet of water. Try using Luhr-Jensen popgear, Mack's Lures Wedding Rings, Yakima Flatfish or Rapala Scatter Rap Tail Dancer. Shore anglers have reported success using garlic PowerBait or a nightcrawler tipped with a marshmallow. For those targeting kokanee, troll at 1.7 mph with your lure suspended in about 10 to 15 feet of water from sunrise to about noon, and in about 30 to 38 feet of water from noon to dusk. For kokanee, try using Christenson's Lakeshore Tackle Slammin' Salmon squids and moon jelly dodgers, and scent your lure with Pro-Cure Carp Spit Super Gel.

(May 3) Anglers have been catching white bass, walleye and channel catfish. The white bass spawn will really ramp up over the next few weeks as temperatures warm. For white bass, try using a Mister Twister Curly Tail Tri Alive grub, Zak Tackle Curly Tail, or Southern Pro Triple Tip grub, and tip it with a nightcrawler or maggot. Popular locations to catch these fish are Lindon Boat Harbor, American Fork Boat Harbor or Lincoln Beach.

(May 18) The reservoir is filling. Rainbow trout have been stocked and are providing fair to good fishing. Largemouth bass are also becoming more active. We began introducing black crappie in 2017 in order to establish a new population for anglers to target. If you catch any crappie, please release them so that they can spawn this spring.

(May 5) The reservoir is filling. Rainbow trout have been stocked and are providing fair to good fishing. Largemouth bass are also getting more active. We began introducing black crappie in 2017 in order to establish a new population for anglers to target. If you catch any crappie, we request that you release them so that they can spawn this spring.

(May 5) We received reports from boat and shore anglers that the water temperature was in the mid-60s, but the wipers weren't active during the evening. Fishing was slow for several shore anglers. One angler caught a decent-sized wiper, but the fish got loose before the angler could get it on the boat. Wiper fishing could improve in the coming weeks.

(Apr 27) The reservoir's water temperature is in the mid to high 50s. According to the angler reports we received, fishing is fair for wipers and catfish. Multiple angler reports indicated that the fish caught were in shallow water: only about 10-15 feet. One fly fisher said that bouncing a red and black bugger off the rocks at that depth did fairly well.